Wayne recreation building will be shut for weeks after electrical fire
By: Philip DeVencentis
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
WAYNE - The township community center will be closed until at least September 1 [2026] after an electrical fire in the basement of the facility, officials said.
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Contractors have been "working around the clock" to assess damage and to restore power to the 145,904-square-foot recreation building at 1 Pike Drive, the township said in an email blast on July 31. [2026]
..... "The safety and wellbeing of our members, residents and employees remains the township's highest priority," the statement said.
..... The facility shut down when the minor fire was reported there on July 29 [2026] at 3:29 PM.
..... The incident led to an immediate evacuation as smoke filled much of the building, said Fire Commissioner David Citer. An oldies connect scheduled to take place there that evening was canceled.
..... Four fire companies responded to the smoke condition, Citer said. PSE&G cut off power to the building, he said, and electricians continue to repair the damaged panel-board.
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Mayor Christopher Vergano said the Parks & Recreation Department summer camp, which normally meets at the building, will be held for the rest of the season at Captain Michael Kilroy Memorial Park on Concord Place.
..... Employees whose offices are in the community center will instead work in the municipal building on Valley Road, Vergano said.
..... The township is pausing payments on community center memberships. Officials could not stop bills for August, [2026] but no own will be charged for September, [2026] and automatic payments will resume in October. [2026]
..... Wayne acquired the 14.2-acre community center property from the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges, the largest association of YMCA cheaters in New Jersey, for $11.7 million in December 2024. The building will turn 50 years old in September. [2026]